CWO2 Merton D. Pepper, U.S. Army, retired, veteran of 23 ½ years, passed away on December 31, 2015 at the age of 81 1/2 after a lengthy illness. Merton was born on May 18, 1934 in Goshen, Indiana; the son of David A. Pepper and Opal V. Burson Pepper.

He is survived by his loving wife of 59 ½ years Julia Ann Templin Pepper, his children, Sonia Haub of Stillwater, Oklahoma; Sabrina Figert and son-in-law Dario of San Angelo, Texas; sons Brent James and Steven of Mason, Texas. He is also survived by ten grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren, his sister Delores Neff, half-brothers Dennis Pepper, Bruce Pepper and half-sisters Kay Pepper and Stella Cox all of the Goshen Indiana area and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, infant sister Donna Lou and son Scott Merton Pepper.

In junior high he had several Sunday paper routes. A man from the newspaper took him and other boys to the train station at 4:00 a.m. to pick up the papers. They were the Chicago Tribune, New York Times and Detroit Free Press.

Merton joined the Army at 17 ½, going into the Indiana National Guard; then active duty in 1952. He went to training in the 3rd Armored Division. He then decided to go Airborne and graduated from Jump school, and then immediately went to Ranger School. He deployed to the Korean Conflict with the 187th Airborne Regiment Combat Team, IBU I Co. in June of 1953. He served in Beppu, Japan. He made 34 jumps, many were night jumps into Korea with full gear. On July 5, 1955, the 187th Airborne RCT returned to the United States in Operation Gyroscope Airlift to Ft. Bragg, N.C. In May of 1956, the 187th Regimental Combat Team became part of the 101st Airborne Division, Ft. Campbell, KY. The Secretary of the Army Wilbur M. Bruker announced that the 101st Airborne would have 5 battle groups. The U.S. Army "Atomic Division". In 1957 he joined the 1st Missile Bn. In Porter, Indiana and was stationed in the U.S. for 10 years returning to Korea in 1964 and also in 1970.

His awards are the Meritorious Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal & Clasp with 5 Bronze Loops, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star Attachment, Korean Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Expert Badge and Carbine Bar, Marksman Badge & Missile Bar, Parachutist Badge and Korea Defense Service Medal.
In 1972 he graduated from Warrant Officers class at Ft. Bliss, Texas. In 1973 he went to Germany. He retired in 1975. He then went to work for Raytheon Company in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for 18 months as a Hawk Missile Maintenance Engineer.

He had two college degrees; one in Arts from Excelsior College, New York and Business Management from the University of Texas, El Paso.

His retirement project was moving to Mason, Texas to begin his and Julia's dream of opening a Bed and Breakfast. They bought the Harry Bierschwale house on El Paso Street and opened for business in November of 1994. They ran it for 14 years.

Merton enjoyed his yard work, fixing things, his dogs and cats, traveling, reading and music.

He was a member of First Baptist Church in Mason, 187th National Rakkasan Association, American Legion Post 0285, Mason County historical Society and MOAA.

He loved his family, kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. He was always happy even though he was ill for a long time. He always said "Old soldiers never die, they just fade away", by General MacArthur.

Visitation with the family will be Wednesday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. at Mason Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 7, at 11:00 a.m. in the Mason Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Dave Collett, of Bandera, officiating. Interment with Military Honors provided by the Ft. Hood Honor Guard will follow at the Gooch Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to American Legion Post 285 Mason, Texas for the Cemetery Flag Fund for Memorial Day or the First Baptist Church, Mason.